Lawn-sprinkler nozzle



May 13, 1930. A. R. LE MOON 1,758,119

' LAWN SPRINKLER NOZZLE Filed Sept. '24. .1927

Patented May 13, 1930 I PATENT OFFICE LIED LE MOON, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS mwn-srnmxnnn. nozzm Application fled September 24, 1927. sum Io. 221,733.

This invention relates to lawn sprinkler nozzles, and the main objects are to provide a nozzle for this purpose adapted for ready setting from time to time to produce sprays 6 differing in volume and character and alsodiifering in height of discharge point relative to the surface of the ground; to provide such a nozzle adapted for momentary large initial flow of water for flushing purposes and 1 which shall be automatically operable for quickly assuming a predetermined effective position, when the water is turned on, ac-

cording to the adjustment setting and'kind of spray desired; and to provide a spray defleeting attachment of interchangeable character adapted for applying to a nozzle such as herein referred to for modifying the character of and limiting the upward movement of the spray or augmenting its lateral deflection.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the nozzle in its closed position.

Fig. 2 is mainly a longitudinal axial section through the nozzle, positioned as in Fig. 1, the central core being in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, viewed as indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view tak'en as in Fig; 35 2 but with the valve raised to its initial intermediate or flushing position.

' Fig; 6 is similar to Fig. 5 except that the central core is raised to its normal smallstream position and the lower part of the nozzle is broken away.

Fig. 7 is mainly similar to Fig. 6 except that the core is raised to its uppermost position for throwing a large stream, only the top part of the nozzle being shown.

Fig. 8 is similar to Fig. 6 with the addition of a spray deflecting cap which augments laterlall deflection and throws the spray horizonta y.

Fig. 9 is similar to the top part of Fig. 2 except that the core is raised very slightly for discharging a fine, thin spray, with the whole nozzle top substantially flush with the ground.

Fig. 10-shows a modified form of deflector cap.

Fig. 11 shows in axial section a ca the deflecting face of which is of modified orm.

In the construction shown in the drawings, the nozzle is of simple construction and comprises only two relatively movable main parts, namely the shell 1 and the core 2, besides an adjusting nut 3. Whenever it is desired to restrict or preclude upward projection of the spray, and augm'entits lateral deflection, a curved cap 4 is attachable rigidly to the top of the core, as by means of a screw 5. However, even then the only movement occurring in the valve under the operation conditions of opening and closing, when adjustment has been made, is that of the sub- 7 stantially unitary core part represented by numerals 2, 3, 4 and 5.

This nozzle is intended mainly for use in a lawn sprinkling system where a plurality of nozzles are connected to a common source of water supply which may be controlled by a remotely positioned hand valve, not here shown. In this instance the source of supply is indicated by pipe 6 on Fig. 2. In order to facilitate ready connection of the nozzle to this pipe, it is formed of nut shape, as for instance hexagonal, as shown at 7, and the interior is threaded, as at 8. The main body of the shell 1 is provided with a cylindrical chamber 9 and the upper 'end is provided with an outwardly flared conical crater or discharge part 10 communicating with said chamber by a comparativel narrow central opening extending throug the restricted neck partas shown at 11. It matters not as to which end of shell is hexagonal.

In order to assure coaxial alinement of the lower end of core 2 in the shell 1 a guide off, permitting the core 2 to drop by gravity;

This part 17 is connected to the fluted part 15 by means of a thin neckpart 18 adapted to permit a large flow of water for flushing the nozzle when the core is raised initially to an intermediate position.

The fluting grooves 19 on the part 15 are flared deep and wide toward the lower end and are comparatively narrow and shallow at the u per end whereby adjustment of the rate of ow may be effected according to the elevation of the core 2 as determined by the setting of nut 3.

Referring to the spray deflector attachment or cap 4, it is to be noted that the lower face 20 of the projecting rim part 21 is curved so as to be tangent to the face of cone 17 at its inner'edge and substantially horizontal at its outer edge, so that as the spray leaves the nozzle it will be projected substantially horizontally and thence pulled downwardly by gravity, approximately according to the shape of an' umbrella. The central body part 22 is axially perforated at 23 to accommodate the screw 5. The lower side of part 22 is curved to fit the top.

In case it is desired to restrict only a part of the spray or a limited sector thereof, the deflector cap may be formed accordingly, as in Fig. 10. Here the cap 4 includes a central body part 22' as in cap 4, but the deflector part is represented merely by a sector 21' which may well be about sixty degrees in extent, depending on the range of protection desired. As the caps are interchangeable a variety of different designs of caps may be kept on hand for use to meet specific needs from time to time.

In order to set the core nut-lock 3, the water being turned off from the spraying system, the attendant uses any common socket wrench (not shown) of suitable size to fit the nut part 7,. and removes the nozzle as a whole from the pipe 6, and then either with his fingers or with a small wrench adjusts and sets the stop nut or nuts 3. He then replaces the nozzle on the pipe 6, as will be understood, whereupon the water may be turned on again.

Summarizing the character of this improved nozzle there are three main features which are especially notable, namely (1) the initial self cleaning automatic flush of the nozzle incident to the narrow neck -18 of the core, (2) the adjustable setting for limiting the effective projection or height of the core whereby accommodation may be had for (a)' large volume of water and high point of initial spread of spray, as desirable for relatively tall rass, (b) smaller volume and lower point 0 initial spread, as desirable for shorter grass or for newly seeded lawns,.and (0) very small volume with fine thin spray and a substantially gro'und flush point of mitial spread, as may be desired at times, and (3) the interchangeable downwardly restricting spray deflector attachment or ca 4 or 4 for protecting nearby upstandin o ects from getting sprayed upon.

i urt ermore, this improved nozzle is aptly adapted for simplicity of design; it comprises but few parts, all of which are inexpensive and easy to make, and which lend themselves to ready assemblage in the finished product; the parts are all adapted for manufacture from rigid, non-rusting material, are substantiallyfree from wear, and as a result there is practically no expense for replacement; and any desired setting may be had at any time by an unskilled attendant and without the use of any special tool.

Although but one specific embodiment of the main features of this invention has been herein shown and described, together with several forms of deflector caps it will be understood that numerous details-of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A nozzle comp-rising a shell in combination with a relatively movable core, said parts being formed relative to each other for control of the transmitted fluid according to the position of said core, and also for llmiting the movements of said core, said shell having a passageway therethrough to transmit the fluid and to house said core, the latter having a narrow neck, and said shell having the inner face of its wall formed to restrict said passageway at that party which lies opposite the core neck when the valve is closed or nearly closed, said core having a head on its outer end to close the valve when the core is moved inwardly and said core having a longitudinally fluted part on the other side of its neck to fit slidably and snugly in the restricted part of said passageway and accommodate a normal operating flow of fluid in numerous small streams when the core is moved to its outward position, whereby free passage is allowed init-iall for a large momentary flushing current w enever operation of the nozzle is desired and-formation of spray is facilitated when the valve is fully opened.

p 2. A nozzle comprising a shell in combination with a core having a limited range of movement therein, said parts being formed relative to each other for control of the transmitted fluid according to the position of said core. said shell having a passageway therethrough to receive, transmit and dlscharge the fluid and to house said core, the latter having a narrow neck, and said shell belngformed interiorly to restrict said passageway at that part which lies opposite the core neck when the core is at or near its valve closing position, said core having a head on its outer end to close the discharge end of said passageway when the core is moved inwardly and said core having a longitudinally aper tured relatively thick body part on the other side of its neck to fit slidably and snugly in the restricted part of said passageway and accommodate a normal limited flow of fluid in numerous small stream units when the core is moved to its outward position, whereby free passage is allowed for a large momentary flushmg discharge whenever operation of the nozzle is initiated and eflicient spraying is assured in operation.

3. A self-closing nozzle comprising a tubular shell in combination with a longitudinally movable core therein operable by li uid ressure to open the nozzle, which mem -ers ave mutually related control parts one of which is manually adjustable to. determine the range of movement of said'core and the degree of opening of said nozzle according to the kind of spray desired, said shell having a restricted orifice at its discharge end, and said core having a thick body part disposed substantially all within the chamber of said shell when the nozzle is closed, and a relatively thin axially projeetin neck part disposed in or extending beyon said orifice accordingly as the nozzle is closed or opened respectively, said neck part having a head to close said orifice when said core is retracted, said body part being formed to slide outward more or less into said orifice accordin to the setting of said adjustable part and said body part also being formed to providea longitudinal passageway of different capacities therethrough according to the position of said core.

4. A self-closing spray nozzle comprising a tubular shell in combination with a longitudinally movable core disposed axially therein and operable by liquid pressure to open the nozzle, which members have mutually related control parts one of which is manually adjustable to determine the range of movement of said core and the degree of opening of said nozzle according to the amount or kind of spra desired, said shell having a restricted ori ce at its dischar e end, and said core having a thick and su stantially cylindrical body part disposed within the chamber of said shell when the nozzle is closed, and a relatively thin endwise projecting neck part disposed in or extending beyond said orifice accordingly as the nozzle is closed or opened respectively,

said neck part having a head to close saidorifice when said core is retracted, said body part being formed to slide outward more or less into said orifice according to the setting of said adjustable part and said body part also being flutedto permit the passage of liquid, the fluting grooves being flared in one direction to provide for different capacities through said body part according to the position of said core when the nozzle is in use.

5. A nozzle comprising a shell having a discharge orifice in combination with a core having a part disposed axially within said orifice and provided with a head havin a downward conoidal face to cause deflection of the liquid escaping between said shell and core, and means attachable to said head to more or less augment deflection of the liquid,

said means including a central body part curved to fit against the top of said head which is convex and a rim segment projecting laterally beyond said head the lower face of said segment being more downwardly divergent from the vertical than the lower face of said head, whereby the upward projection of the liquid may be more or less limited and confined in any desired lateral direction.

6. In an adjustable spray nozzle a longitudinally movable axial core formed as to cross section area at successive points so as to operate freely and automatically in service to pass first a flushing current, as the water is turned on and then a lesser current which is variable according to the extent of further movement of said core as predetermined by adjustable setting, and means to limit such movement including threaded means.

7. In a spray nozzle having a tubular shell with a restricted outlet, a longitudinally movable axially disposed core adapted to regulate the spray and having adjustable means to effect a setting thereof according to the kind of spray desired, said core having a head on one end to close said outlet when the core is in one position, a' longitudinally apertured body part formed to pass a limited amount of water in small independent streams when the core is in its operative spraying position, and a restricted neck part between said'head and body parts to momentarily pass a relatively large volume of water initially as the nozzle goes into service.

8. A self-closing nozzle comprising atubular'shell in combination with a longitudinally movable core therein operable by liquid pressure to open the nozzle, which adjusting fittin loosely in said orifice and a head dispose outside of said orifice and adapted to seat against said shell to close said orifice under the urge of gravity when the pressure is withheld, said nozzle being disposed uprightly with said head uppermost. Signed at Chicago this 21st day of September, 1927.

' AXEL R' LE MOON. 

